Children {a Burden or a Blessing?}

May 2, 2012 By Rachel

Written by Jenn, Contributing Writer

Do you ever feel as though your children are a burden? That they are keeping you from doing the many things you used to do before you were a mother? Do you ever ponder how much free time you’d have if you didn’t have kids (although you’d probably fill it up with something else)?

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As Mother’s Day approaches, we see plenty of Hallmark cards thanking us moms for all the sacrifices we make and the love we give to our children. When I ponder my selfish thoughts and inadequacies, I don’t feel like receiving those encouragements. I don’t measure up to those standards. I have to admit that I’ve let myself believe that my children are a burden.

It’s not intentional, but I’m guilty of listening to the subtle messages the world sends me about my offspring:

–they’re messy
–they’re whiny
–there are too many of them
–they keep me from getting sleep
–they’re always pulling at me or asking me a question
–they keep me from doing something for myself
–it will be so nice when they’re gone at school all day and I have some peace and quiet
–their purpose is to make my life miserable

It’s time to take back the belief that children are a blessing rather than a burden. To submit our daily thoughts to God and ask Him to change those thoughts toward our children. To fight back against the message that “being a mom” isn’t worth pursuing with our whole hearts.

How can we wage war against our burdensome thoughts? The best way is by looking at what God’s Word says about how we are blessed by our children!

Deut. 6:6-8 “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.” We are given the privilege of teaching our children.

Psalm 8: 1-2 “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth…from the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.” Our children were created to praise and love the Lord!

Psalm 127:3 “Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him.” Children are given to us by God’s grace.

Mark 9:36-38 “He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.'” Jesus desired fellowship with children and encourages us to desire them as well!

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And so, even though there are many messes, I am thankful that I have messy little hands to wipe. Even though the constant chatter never seems to stop, I am grateful to have the joy of teaching these inquisitive little minds what they want to know. Even though there are sleepless nights, I am thankful there are three little bodies that want me to snuggle them when they are scared by a thunderstorm, teething, or just needing to be held.

I pray that you will have deep gratitude in your hearts for your children today…for all the good times and the difficult times, for the grace God has given you to sustain you through the long days where nothing seems to go the way you want it to.

Be encouraged that God will bless your efforts as a mother and that your children will one day “praise (you) at the gates” (Prov. 31)!

Jenn is a pastor’s wife and a mother of 3 beautiful children.

Join Jenn at The Purposeful Mom where she shares how she is learning to live with purpose in the spiritual, financial and practical areas of life.

Her desire is that we would all :encourage one another and build each other up” 1 Thess. 5:11

Comments

Lori says:

May 2, 2012 at 3:30 pm

You have touched on a very relevant topic. I am unusual in that it was always my dream to have children…a lot of them, and I am thankful for each one. It saddens me to see many moms rushing through life (keeping their pre-child schedules) and not slowing down to enjoy the little daily joys that come with having children. I have not always remembered to do this in the dailiness of life, but overall it has been my goal to embrace the poet’s words~
“Cleaning and Scrubbing can wait til tomorrow
For babies grow up we’ve learned to our sorrow
So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.”

Keep up the God work.
- Jenn says:
  
  May 2, 2012 at 6:38 pm
  
  Thank you for sharing your heart in this, Lori! You are so right that we need to slow down and enjoy our children! I love that little poem, I heard it somewhere else in the past and I’m glad to be reminded of it again 🙂
Jenna says:

May 2, 2012 at 7:10 pm

Great article, Jenn! The Lord has truly blessed us with these wonderful beings who are… us! This is something that is near and dear to my heart as well. Children are growing up in a cruel world and they need godly examples who love unconditionally and show Christ in the home more than ever! Thankful for this community of sweet mama’s who encourage us in this journey of our lives!!! Thank you!
- Jenn says:
  
  May 3, 2012 at 2:08 am
  
  Thank you for reading my post and taking the time to comment 🙂 So true that our children need Christ-like examples in the world in which we live!
Elise says:

May 3, 2012 at 3:33 pm

Amen!
Anne @ Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy says:

May 4, 2012 at 12:27 am

What a great reminder! I really need to remind myself of this regularly.
Jami Leigh says:

May 4, 2012 at 2:59 am

I love this reminder Jenn!! Thank you 🙂
Olah Momma! says:

May 7, 2012 at 3:02 am

They are a blessing. Life is not perfect, and so are they. Whatever they do, whatever you lost from yourself of having them, Having Them has given you something unexplainable. I call this LOVE. And yes, I get irritated with people naming children such names, as if they were more perfect than them when they were their age.

Hopping by and following your FB.

My recent posts:
Crafting >> http://olahmomma.com/blog/diy-butterfly-gift-wrapping
Cooking >> http://olahmomma.com/blog/creamy-cheesy-scrambled-eggs